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Angels sign outfielder Crowe to Minors deal

DETROIT -- Back in late March, the Angels were painstakingly close to sending Bobby Abreu to the Indians, and one player who could've gone to the Angels in that proposed deal was outfielder Trevor Crowe. The trade, of course, didn't happen.

But 3 1/2 months later, it's almost like it did.

Abreu is gone from the roster -- playing for the Dodgers -- and on Tuesday, the Angels signed Trevor Crowe to a Minor League deal, shortly after he was released by Cleveland.

Crowe is currently playing out of Triple-A Salt Lake. He's 28, a switch-hitter, can play all three outfield spots -- though most of his experience comes in center -- and has compiled a .245/.295/.329 slash line in 205 games in the big leagues, spanning three seasons.

Crowe was taken 14th overall in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, underwent shoulder surgery early in 2011 and hit .250 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 38 games for Triple-A Columbus this season. On the Angels, he'll provide some organizational depth -- and perhaps insurance, in case they end up trading one of their outfielders.

"He's kind of a speed-oriented, multi-position outfielder who we hope goes into Salt Lake and clicks," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He swung the bat really well this spring, when we saw him for Cleveland. His playing time was intermittent. He's had some battles with injuries. But at the end of the day, we felt like it was an opportunity to add some depth."

DETROIT -- Back in late March, the Angels were painstakingly close to sending Bobby Abreu to the Indians, and one player who could've gone to the Angels in that proposed deal was outfielder Trevor Crowe. The trade, of course, didn't happen.

But 3 1/2 months later, it's almost like it did.

Abreu is gone from the roster -- playing for the Dodgers -- and on Tuesday, the Angels signed Trevor Crowe to a Minor League deal, shortly after he was released by Cleveland.

Crowe is currently playing out of Triple-A Salt Lake. He's 28, a switch-hitter, can play all three outfield spots -- though most of his experience comes in center -- and has compiled a .245/.295/.329 slash line in 205 games in the big leagues, spanning three seasons.

Crowe was taken 14th overall in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, underwent shoulder surgery early in 2011 and hit .250 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 38 games for Triple-A Columbus this season. On the Angels, he'll provide some organizational depth -- and perhaps insurance, in case they end up trading one of their outfielders.

"He's kind of a speed-oriented, multi-position outfielder who we hope goes into Salt Lake and clicks," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He swung the bat really well this spring, when we saw him for Cleveland. His playing time was intermittent. He's had some battles with injuries. But at the end of the day, we felt like it was an opportunity to add some depth."